Warlords, strongmen have political connections: Hadid

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The Balkh provincial council head on Monday said political connections had paved the ground for the illegal activities of local strongmen.

Dr. Mohammad Afzal Hadid, the provincial council head, alleged some powerful figures were involved in illegal activities in a number of districts besides opening casinos in Mazar-i-Sharif.

In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, he expressed concern over the presence of illegal gunmen and their arbitrary actions, saying such people left a negative impact on Balkh security.

Hadid said Balkh was still one of comparatively stable provinces in the north, but the presence of irresponsible armed individuals offered cause for concern.

These powerful figures were possibly linked to provincial council members and parliamentarians, he believed, saying some of political parties in Balkh support the irresponsible gunmen.

Hadid expressed concern over gambling dens in Mazar-i-Sharif and said most of them were run by illegal armed men. Police are aware of these dens, but refuse to act against them, according to him.

These individuals must have tacit support from police, who were unwilling to curb such activities, the public representative said.

“There are amazing links among movements,” he said, accepting the provincial council’s failure to take action so far against illegal activities in Balkh.

He called the lack of law enforcement another reason that paved the ground for the unlawful acts of local strongmen.

He stressed the provincial council would continue its job as representative of people and hoped positive changes would gradually come about.

He said a high-level meeting, chaired by the Balkh governor, was held on the activities of illegal armed groups in the first week of Ramadan.

Attended by provincial council members, MPs, representatives of political parties, scholars and tribal elders, the meeting decided to take serious action to thwart arbitrary actions by illegal armed men.